67 pages • 2 hours read
Liz MooreThe God of the Woods
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
How do Tracy Jewell and Barbara Van Laar serve as foils of one another? Use at least three examples from the novel to support your discussion.
How does Moore foreshadow the solution to Bear and Barbara’s respective disappearances? Which clues are false or misleading, and why are they included?
How are the narrative’s key themes influenced by the general time period of 1960s and 1970s America?
In Chapter 37, Alice learns the meaning of Barbara’s name. To what extent does the name’s supposed meaning apply to Barbara herself? How do the connotations of Barbara’s name warp Alice’s beliefs about her daughter?
Compare and contrast the Van Laars with the Hewitts. How are the issues of family legacy, heritage, and tradition important to each clan?
Barbara adopts a punk aesthetic which draws the ire of many people around her. Research the punk ethos to explain why Barbara finds it appealing and uses it as a form of rebellion.
Although the novel alternates between multiple points of view, the narrative primarily features female characters. How does this stylistic choice contribute to the author’s broader views on Navigating the Injustices of Misogyny?
How is Alice’s life affected by the social stigma surrounding mental health conditions?
What is the significance of the title? Which characters can be considered the “god of the woods,” and why?
What motivates Judy to keep Barbara’s whereabouts a secret? How does this complicate the novel’s messages about The Dangers of Keeping Secrets?
